GreaterlibertieshavebeentakeninthepresenceofaBishop，thoughaverygoodman，fromhisbeingmilder，andthereforenotcommandingsuchawe。Yet，Sir，manypeoplewhomighthavebeenbenefitedbyyourconversation，havebeenfrightenedaway。A
worthyfriendofourshastoldme，thathehasoftenbeenafraidtotalktoyou。’JOHNSON。’Sir，heneednothavebeenafraid，ifhehadanythingrationaltosay。Ifhehadnot，itwasbetterhedidnottalk。’
Wetalkedofacertainclergymanofextraordinarycharacter，whobyexertinghistalentsinwritingontemporarytopicks，anddisplayinguncommonintrepidity，hadraisedhimselftoaffluence。
Imaintainedthatweoughtnottobeindignantathissuccess；formeritofeverysortwasentitledtoreward。JOHNSON。’Sir，Iwillnotallowthismantohavemerit。No，Sir；whathehasisratherthecontrary；Iwill，indeed，allowhimcourage，andonthisaccountwesofargivehimcredit。Wehavemorerespectforamanwhorobsboldlyonthehighway，thanforafellowwhojumpsoutofaditch，andknocksyoudownbehindyourback。Courageisaqualitysonecessaryformaintainingvirtue，thatitisalwaysrespected，evenwhenitisassociatedwithvice。’
Mr。Henderson，withwhomIhadsaunteredinthevenerablewalksofMertonCollege，andfoundhimaverylearnedandpiousman，suppedwithus。Dr。Johnsonsurprisedhimnotalittle，byacknowledgingwithalookofhorrour，thathewasmuchoppressedbythefearofdeath。TheamiableDr。AdamssuggestedthatGODwasinfinitelygood。JOHNSON。’Thatheisinfinitelygood，asfarastheperfectionofhisnaturewillallow，Icertainlybelieve；butitisnecessaryforgooduponthewhole，thatindividualsshouldbepunished。AstoanINDIVIDUAL，therefore，heisnotinfinitelygood；andasIcannotbeSUREthatIhavefulfilledtheconditionsonwhichsalvationisgranted，IamafraidImaybeoneofthosewhoshallbedamned。’lookingdismally。DR。ADAMS。’Whatdoyoumeanbydamned？’JOHNSON。passionatelyandloudly，’SenttoHell，Sir，andpunishedeverlastingly!’DR。ADAMS。’Idon’tbelievethatdoctrine。’JOHNSON。’Hold，Sir，doyoubelievethatsomewillbepunishedatall？’DR。ADAMS。’BeingexcludedfromHeavenwillbeapunishment；yettheremaybenogreatpositivesuffering。’JOHNSON。Well，Sir；but，ifyouadmitanydegreeofpunishment，thereisanendofyourargumentforinfinitegoodnesssimplyconsidered；for，infinitegoodnesswouldinflictnopunishmentwhatever。Thereisnotinfinitegoodnessphysicallyconsidered；morallythereis。’BOSWELL。’Butmaynotamanattaintosuchadegreeofhopeasnottobeuneasyfromthefearofdeath？’JOHNSON。’Amanmayhavesuchadegreeofhopeastokeephimquiet。YouseeIamnotquiet，fromthevehemencewithwhichI
talk；butIdonotdespair。’MRS。ADAMS。’Youseem，Sir，toforgetthemeritsofourRedeemer。’JOHNSON。’Madam，IdonotforgetthemeritsofmyRedeemer；butmyRedeemerhassaidthathewillsetsomeonhisrighthandandsomeonhisleft。’Hewasingloomyagitation，andsaid，’I’llhavenomoreon’t。’IfwhathasnowbeenstatedshouldbeurgedbytheenemiesofChristianity，asifitsinfluenceonthemindwerenotbenignant，letitberemembered，thatJohnson’stemperamentwasmelancholy，ofwhichsuchdirefulapprehensionsoffuturityareoftenacommoneffect。
Weshallpresentlyseethatwhenheapproachednearertohisawefulchange，hismindbecametranquil，andheexhibitedasmuchfortitudeasbecomesathinkingmaninthatsituation。
Fromthesubjectofdeathwepassedtodiscourseoflife，whetheritwasuponthewholemorehappyormiserable。Johnsonwasdecidedlyforthebalanceofmisery：inconfirmationofwhichI
maintained，thatnomanwouldchoosetoleadoveragainthelifewhichhehadexperienced。Johnsonaccededtothatopinioninthestrongestterms。
OnSunday，June13，ourphilosopherwascalmatbreakfast。TherewassomethingexceedinglypleasinginourleadingaCollegelife，withoutrestraint，andwithsuperiourelegance，inconsequenceofourlivingintheMaster’shouse，andhavingthecompanyofladies。
Mrs。Kennicotrelated，inhispresence，alivelysayingofDr。
JohnsontoMissHannahMore，whohadexpressedawonderthatthepoetwhohadwrittenParadiseLostshouldwritesuchpoorSonnets：——
’Milton，Madam，wasageniusthatcouldcutaColossusfromarock；butcouldnotcarveheadsuponcherry-stones。’
OnMonday，June14，andTuesday，15，Dr。JohnsonandIdined，ononeofthem，Iforgetwhich，withMr。Mickle，translatoroftheLusiad，atWheatley，averyprettycountryplaceafewmilesfromOxford；andontheotherwithDr。Wetherell，MasterofUniversityCollege。FromDr。Wetherell’shewenttovisitMr。SackvilleParker，thebookseller；andwhenhereturnedtous，gavethefollowingaccountofhisvisit，saying，’Ihavebeentoseemyoldfriend，SackParker；Ifindhehasmarriedhismaid；hehasdoneright。Shehadlivedwithhimmanyyearsingreatconfidence，andtheyhadmingledminds；Idonotthinkhecouldhavefoundanywifethatwouldhavemadehimsohappy。Thewomanwasveryattentiveandciviltome；shepressedmetofixadayfordiningwiththem，andtosaywhatIliked，andshewouldbesuretogetitforme。
PoorSack!Heisveryill，indeed。Wepartedasnevertomeetagain。Ithasquitebrokemedown。’Thispatheticnarrativewasstrangelydiversifiedwiththegraveandearnestdefenceofaman’shavingmarriedhismaid。Icouldnotbutfeelitasinsomedegreeludicrous。
InthemorningofTuesday，June15，whilewesatatDr。Adams’s，wetalkedofaprintedletterfromtheReverendHerbertCroft，toayounggentlemanwhohadbeenhispupil，inwhichheadvisedhimtoreadtotheendofwhateverbooksheshouldbegintoread。
JOHNSON。’Thisissurelyastrangeadvice；youmayaswellresolvethatwhatevermenyouhappentogetacquaintedwith，youaretokeeptothemforlife。Abookmaybegoodfornothing；ortheremaybeonlyonethinginitworthknowing；arewetoreaditallthrough？TheseVoyages，pointingtothethreelargevolumesofVoyagestotheSouthSea，whichwerejustcomeoutWHOwillreadthemthrough？Amanhadbetterworkhiswaybeforethemast，thanreadthemthrough；theywillbeeatenbyratsandmice，beforetheyarereadthrough。Therecanbelittleentertainmentinsuchbooks；
onesetofSavagesislikeanother。’BOSWELL。’IdonotthinkthepeopleofOtaheitecanbereckonedSavages。’JOHNSON。’Don’tcantindefenceofSavages。’BOSWELL。’Theyhavetheartofnavigation。’JOHNSON。’Adogoracatcanswim。’BOSWELL。’Theycarveveryingeniously。’JOHNSON。’Acatcanscratch，andachildwithanailcanscratch。’Iperceivedthiswasnoneofthemolliatemporafandi；sodesisted。
UponhismentioningthatwhenhecametoCollegehewrotehisfirstexercisetwiceover；butneverdidsoafterwards；MISSADAMS。’I
suppose，Sir，youcouldnotmakethembetter？’JOHNSON。’Yes，Madam，tobesure，Icouldmakethembetter。Thoughtisbetterthannothought。’MISSADAMS。’Doyouthink，Sir，youcouldmakeyourRamblersbetter？’JOHNSON。’CertainlyIcould。’BOSWELL。
’I’lllayabet，Sir，youcannot。’JOHNSON。’ButIwill，Sir，ifIchoose。Ishallmakethebestofthemyoushallpickout，better。’BOSWELL。’Butyoumayaddtothem。Iwillnotallowofthat。’JOHNSON。’Nay，Sir，therearethreewaysofmakingthembetter；——puttingout，——adding，——orcorrecting。’
DuringourvisitatOxford，thefollowingconversationpassedbetweenhimandmeonthesubjectofmytryingmyfortuneattheEnglishbar：HavingaskedwhetheraveryextensiveacquaintanceinLondon，whichwasveryvaluable，andofgreatadvantagetoamanatlarge，mightnotbeprejudicialtoalawyer，bypreventinghimfromgivingsufficientattentiontohisbusiness；——JOHNSON。’Sir，youwillattendtobusiness，asbusinesslaysholdofyou。Whennotactuallyemployed，youmayseeyourfriendsasmuchasyoudonow。
YoumaydineataClubeveryday，andsupwithoneofthememberseverynight；andyoumaybeasmuchatpublickplacesasonewhohasseenthemallwouldwishtobe。ButyoumusttakecaretoattendconstantlyinWestminster-Hall；bothtomindyourbusiness，asitisalmostalllearntthere，fornobodyreadsnow；andtoshewthatyouwanttohavebusiness。Andyoumustnotbetoooftenseenatpublickplaces，thatcompetitorsmaynothaveittosay，“HeisalwaysatthePlayhouseoratRanelagh，andnevertobefoundathischambers。“And，Sir，theremustbeakindofsolemnityinthemannerofaprofessionalman。Ihavenothingparticulartosaytoyouonthesubject。AllthisIshouldsaytoanyone；IshouldhavesaidittoLordThurlowtwentyyearsago。’
OnWednesday，June19，Dr。JohnsonandIreturnedtoLondon；hewasnotwellto-day，andsaidverylittle，employinghimselfchieflyinreadingEuripides。Heexpressedsomedispleasureatme，fornotobservingsufficientlythevariousobjectsupontheroad。’IfI
hadyoureyes，Sir，saidhe，Ishouldcountthepassengers。’Itwaswonderfulhowaccuratehisobservationofvisualobjectswas，notwithstandinghisimperfecteyesight，owingtoahabitofattention。ThathewasmuchsatisfiedwiththerespectpaidtohimatDr。Adams’sisthusattestedbyhimself：’IreturnedlastnightfromOxford，afterafortnight’sabodewithDr。Adams，whotreatedmeaswellasIcouldexpectorwish；andhethatcontentsasickman，amanwhomitisimpossibletoplease，hassurelydonehispartwell。’
AfterhisreturntoLondonfromthisexcursion，Isawhimfrequently，buthavefewmemorandums：IshallthereforehereinsertsomeparticularswhichIcollectedatvarioustimes。
IthavingbeenmentionedtoDr。Johnsonthatagentlemanwhohadasonwhomheimaginedtohaveanextremedegreeoftimidity，resolvedtosendhimtoapublickschool，thathemightacquireconfidence；——’Sir，saidJohnson，thisisapreposterousexpedientforremovinghisinfirmity；suchadispositionshouldbecultivatedintheshade。Placinghimatapublickschoolisforcinganowluponday。’
Speakingofagentlemanwhosehousewasmuchfrequentedbylowcompany；’Rags，Sir，saidhe，willalwaysmaketheirappearancewheretheyhavearighttodoit。’
Ofthesamegentleman’smodeofliving，hesaid，’Sir，theservants，insteadofdoingwhattheyarebid，standroundthetableinidleclusters，gapingupontheguests；andseemasunfittoattendacompany，astosteeramanofwar。’
AdullcountrymagistrategaveJohnsonalongtediousaccountofhisexercisinghiscriminaljurisdiction，theresultofwhichwashishavingsentencedfourconvictstotransportation。Johnson，inanagonyofimpatiencetogetridofsuchacompanion，exclaimed，’Iheartilywish，Sir，thatIwereafifth。’
Johnsonwaspresentwhenatragedywasread，inwhichthereoccurredthisline：——
’Whoruleso’erfreemenshouldhimselfbefree。’
Thecompanyhavingadmireditmuch，’IcannotagreewithyousaidJohnson。Itmightaswellbesaid，——
’Whodrivesfatoxenshouldhimselfbefat。’
Johnsonhavingarguedforsometimewithapertinaciousgentleman；
hisopponent，whohadtalkedinaverypuzzlingmanner，happenedtosay，’Idon’tunderstandyou，Sir：’uponwhichJohnsonobserved，’Sir，Ihavefoundyouanargument；butIamnotobligedtofindyouanunderstanding。’
TalkingtomeofHorryWalpole，asHoracelateEarlofOrfordwasoftencalled，Johnsonallowedthathegottogetheragreatmanycuriouslittlethings，andtoldtheminanelegantmanner。Mr。
WalpolethoughtJohnsonamoreamiablecharacterafterreadinghisLetterstoMrs。Thrale：butneverwasoneofthetrueadmirersofthatgreatman。Wemaysupposeaprejudiceconceived，ifheeverheardJohnson’saccounttoSirGeorgeStaunton，thatwhenhemadethespeechesinparliamentfortheGentleman’sMagazine，’healwaystookcaretoputSirRobertWalpoleinthewrong，andtosayeverythinghecouldagainsttheelectorateofHanover。’ThecelebratedHeroickEpistle，inwhichJohnsonissatyricallyintroduced，hasbeenascribedbothtoMr。WalpoleandMr。Mason。OnedayatMr。
Courtenay’s，whenagentlemanexpressedhisopinionthattherewasmoreenergyinthatpoemthancouldbeexpectedfromMr。Walpole；
Mr。Warton，thelateLaureat，observed，’ItmayhavebeenwrittenbyWalpole，andBUCKRAM’DbyMason。’
SirJoshuaReynoldshavingsaidthathetookthealtitudeofaman’stastebyhisstoriesandhiswit，andofhisunderstandingbytheremarkswhichherepeated；beingalwayssurethathemustbeaweakmanwhoquotescommonthingswithanemphasisasiftheywereoracles；Johnsonagreedwithhim；andSirJoshuahavingalsoobservedthattherealcharacterofamanwasfoundoutbyhisamusements，——Johnsonadded，’Yes，Sir；nomanisahypocriteinhispleasures。’